Free health screenings reach hundreds

STOCKTON - Four University of the Pacific pharmacy students turned an ambitious vision into reality Saturday with the help of scores of sponsors and volunteers, drawing approximately 300 people to a San Joaquin Delta College parking lot for free health screenings.

STOCKTON - Four University of the Pacific pharmacy students turned an ambitious vision into reality Saturday with the help of scores of sponsors and volunteers, drawing approximately 300 people to a San Joaquin Delta College parking lot for free health screenings.

Pacific students Kate Lee, Chris Chan, Shelley Matsumura and Miguel Cobian presented the plan as part of a Pharmacy Leadership Society competition last year. They were awarded first place and a $500 grant to help fund the first of two Salud Outreach health fairs.

"We have a really high Hispanic population in Stockton, and within the Hispanic population we have a really high rate of diabetes," Lee said. "Stockton also is one of the poorest cities in the nation, and San Joaquin County has one of the top five obesity rates. The reason we have these obesity and health problems is probably because of poor diet or, because of poverty, people can't go to the doctor."

The students enlisted the help of supporting partners such as Delta College, Kaiser Permanente, San Joaquin General Hospital and El Concilio, and found sponsors such as Tepa Taqueria, Casa Flores and El Torito. They secured space in the Locke parking lot at Delta, set up tents and found volunteers to staff stations where they performed free blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes screenings. They will offer free screenings again Feb. 23.

"It's good for them to do this," Marcel Trejo, a 42-year-old Stockton man, said through a translator. "It's great for the community because sometimes there is no money to pay (for health screenings)."

The health fair catered to the Latino community with volunteers who speak Spanish. Most who received screenings were Latinos who did not speak English, Lee said. One woman's blood pressure was so high she was taken to a hospital by ambulance.

Lee said the students were thrilled to receive so much support, pleased with the turnout and delighted to see their idea come to fruition.

"It feels amazing," Lee said. "I feel so fortunate to be in Stockton, where there's a big need for health care services for underserved people, and it feels so amazing when you feel like you're needed by someone."